# US 11,999,446 B2 · Wake-modifying device for a boat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,446 B2 - Document ID: US11999446B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/536,248 - Filed: 2021-11-29 - Published: 2022-03-17 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-11 - Assignees: MasterCraft Boat Company, LLC - Applicants: MasterCraft Boat Company, LLC - Inventors: Darren S. Sheedy; Matthew J. Huyge; Michael D. Myers; Zane E. Schwenk; David F. Ekern - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999446B2 ## CPC - B63B 32/70: Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements - B63B 34/75: Arrangements of wake plates - B63B 34/70: Arrangements on vessels specially adapted for generating waves for surfing, wakeboarding or the like, e.g. ballast tanks - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract A recreational sport boat includes a hull having starboard and port sides and a transom, a generally horizontal platform, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. The generally horizontal platform extends aft of the transom and is configured to support a human weighing at least 100 lbs. on an upper surface thereof. The pair of wake-modifying devices are attached to the platform. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the platform's centerline, and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the platform's centerline. Each wake-modifying device is moveable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position in which the wake-modifying device is angled downwardly at an angle relative to the top surface of the generally horizontal platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A recreational sport boat comprising: a hull including starboard and port sides; a propulsion unit including motor and a propulsor operatively connected to the motor to propel the boat through the water; a tow point for towing a watersports performer; and a platform assembly provided at an aft portion of the boat, the platform assembly including: (a) a generally horizontal platform spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of the boat, the platform having a centerline, an underside, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a port edge, and a starboard edge, the underside having a central portion through which at least a portion of the centerline of the platform passes; and (b) a port-side wake-modifying surface and a starboard-side wake-modifying surface provided on the underside of the platform, each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface protruding downward from the platform such that the lowest portion of each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is lower than the central portion, each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface having a downward slope in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The recreational sport boat of claim 1, wherein the port-side wake-modifying surface further has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the port edge of the platform. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The recreational sport boat of claim 1, wherein the starboard-side wake-modifying surface further has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the starboard edge of the platform. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The recreational sport boat of claim 1, wherein a lowest portion of each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is on an outer third of the platform measured in a widthwise direction of the platform. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The recreational sport boat of claim 1, wherein each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is pivotable between a first position and a second position in which the respective wake-modifying surface is angled downwardly at an angle greater than it is in its first position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The recreational sport boat of claim 1, wherein each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is stationary relative to the generally horizontal platform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The recreational sport boat of claim 1, wherein the hull further includes a transom, and the propulsor is a propeller operatively connected to the motor, the propeller being located under the hull and forward of the transom. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The recreational sport boat of claim 1, further comprising: a user input device configured to receive a set speed; and a controller communicatively coupled to the input device to receive the set speed and configured to operate the motor to move the boat at the set speed. ### Claim 9 A recreational sport boat comprising: a hull including starboard and port sides; a propulsion unit including motor and a propulsor operatively connected to the motor to propel the boat through the water; a tow point for towing a watersports performer; and a platform assembly extending aft from the boat, the platform assembly including: (i) a generally horizontal platform spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of the boat, the platform having a centerline, an underside, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a port edge, and a starboard edge, the underside having a central portion through which at least a portion of the centerline of the platform passes; (ii) a port-side wake-shaping surface provided on an outboard third of a port side of the centerline of the platform, at least a portion of an underside of the port-side wake-shaping surface having a convex shape that protrudes downward from the platform such that the lowest portion of the convex shape is lower than the central portion; and (iii) a starboard-side wake-shaping surface provided on an outboard third of a starboard side of the centerline of the platform, at least a portion of an underside of the starboard-side wake-shaping surface having a convex shape that protrudes downward from the platform such that the lowest portion of the convex shape is lower than the central portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The recreational sport boat of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of each of the port-side and starboard-side wake-shaping surfaces has a downward slope in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The recreational sport boat of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the port-side wake-shaping surface has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the port edge of the platform, and wherein at least a portion of the starboard-side wake-shaping surface has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the starboard edge of the platform. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The recreational sport boat of claim 9, wherein each of the port-side wake-shaping surface and the starboard-side wake-shaping surface is pivotable between first position and second position in which the wake-shaping surface is angled downwardly at an angle greater than it is in its first position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The recreational sport boat of claim 9, wherein each of the port-side wake-shaping surface and the starboard-side wake-shaping surface is stationary relative to the generally horizontal platform. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The recreational sport boat of claim 9, wherein the hull further includes a transom, and the propulsor is a propeller operatively connected to the motor, the propeller being located under the hull and forward of the transom. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The recreational sport boat of claim 9, further comprising: a user input device configured to receive a set speed; and a controller communicatively coupled to the input device to receive the set speed and configured to operate the motor to move the boat at the set speed. ### Claim 16 A recreational sport boat comprising: a hull including starboard and port sides; a propulsion unit including motor and a propulsor operatively connected to the motor to propel the boat through the water; a tow point for towing a watersports performer; and a platform assembly extending aft from the boat, the platform assembly including: (a) a generally horizontal platform spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of the boat, the platform having a centerline, an underside, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a port edge, and a starboard edge; (b) a downwardly-sloping surface on a port side of the centerline of the platform, the port-side downwardly-sloping surface being sloped downwardly in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform; and (c) a downwardly-sloping surface on a starboard side of the centerline of the platform, the starboard-side downwardly-sloping surface being sloped downwardly in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform, wherein a cross section of the platform assembly taken perpendicular to the centerline of the platform and passing through each of the port-side and starboard-side downwardly-sloping surfaces has a concave shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The recreational sport boat of claim 16, wherein each of the port-side downwardly-sloping surface and the starboard-side downwardly-sloping surface is pivotable between first position and second position in which the downwardly-sloping surface is angled downwardly at an angle greater than it is in its first position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The recreational sport boat of claim 16, wherein each of the port-side downwardly-sloping surface and the starboard-side downwardly-sloping surface is stationary relative to the generally horizontal platform. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The recreational sport boat of claim 16, wherein the hull further includes a transom, and the propulsor is a propeller operatively connected to the motor, the propeller being located under the hull and forward of the transom. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The recreational sport boat of claim 16, further comprising: a user input device configured to receive a set speed; and a controller communicatively coupled to the input device to receive the set speed and configured to operate the motor to move the boat at the set speed.